Discussion Title: Is Herd Immunity for COVID-19 Achievable?

1. Herd Immunity for COVID-19 is achievable.
1.1. Pro: Herd immunity can be achieved through an extended lockdown, mask usage, and social distancing until a vaccine is made.
1.1.1. Con: With lockdowns in place, not enough people are exposed to the virus, making herd immunity impossible.
1.1.1.1. Pro: Exposing populations to the virus would [kill millions](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/from-our-experts/early-herd-immunity-against-covid-19-a-dangerous-misconception) of people well before herd immunity could be reached.
1.1.1.1.1. Pro: It is [predicted](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/from-our-experts/early-herd-immunity-against-covid-19-a-dangerous-misconception) that over half of Americans would die from COVID-19 before herd immunity could be reached in 2021.
1.1.1.2. Con: Many countries have started [easing or lifting lockdowns](https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-52575313). This makes it possible for large groups of the population to be exposed to the virus.
1.1.1.2.1. Con: A surge in cases within Germany has resulted in the [reimposition of local lockdowns](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53149762) in the country.
1.1.2. Con: The populations of many countries do not allow for adequate social distancing.
1.1.2.1. Pro: India, which has the [third-highest COVID-19 cases](https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) as of August 2020, is a country with more than 1.3 billion people and has a population density of [464 people per sq km](https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/india-population/). In comparison, China, the world's [most populous country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population), has a population density of [153 people per sq km](https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/china-population/).
1.1.3. Con: Masks [prevent or reduce the spread of COVID-19](https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/explained-herd-immunity-and-herd-masking/article31668415.ece), but do not help achive herd immunity.
1.1.3.1. Pro: Herd immunity is a product of the non-vulnerable population getting the virus, recovering, and then being unable to spread the virus.
1.1.3.2. Con: Achieving herd immunity by circumventing preventative measures like masks, increases the likelihood that the non-vulnerable population carries the virus to the vulnerable population.
1.2. Pro: Herd immunity is achievable by not locking down or using masks, but by letting the disease naturally progress through the population until the majority are immune.
1.2.1. Con: Immunologists warn that exposing oneself to covid to achieve immunity is [irresponsible](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-31-2020-1.5516352/totally-irresponsible-to-expose-yourself-to-covid-19-in-hopes-of-immunity-warns-immunologist-1.5516366).
1.2.2. Pro: In order to build up an immunity to a virus, one must expose themself to the virus.
1.2.3. Con: This may work, but [risks the lives](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/herd-immunity-and-coronavirus/art-20486808) of an incredible number of individuals in the process.
1.2.3.1. Pro: Most countries cannot handle the rate of infections, and subsequently, deaths that would happen as a result of natural progression.
1.2.3.2. Pro: The [rate of infection](https://news.yahoo.com/san-quentin-coronavirus-disaster-exposes-120059867.html) and death in the San Quentin State Prison shows that the cost of achieving herd immunity through mass exposure is not worth the risk.
1.3. Con: Without the coorporation of everyone to comply with measures meant to slow the disease \(as we currently see\), herd immunity isn't fathomible and shouldn't be pursued as the end goal.
1.3.1. Con: Governments can coerce compliance if it means saving more lives.
1.3.1.1. Con: Police forces do not have the manpower to enforce actions necessary to produce herd immunity.
1.3.2. Con: Not pursuing herd immunity is akin to not pursuing a cure for cancer; the cost of not doing so is a greater risk than the attempt.
1.3.3. Pro: -> See 1.1.1.
1.3.4. Pro: Many people are against safety measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
1.3.4.1. Pro: In the United Kingdom, hundreds of demonstrators gathered to [protest against mask-wearing](https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/20/uk/london-face-mask-protest-gbr-intl/index.html).
1.3.4.1.1. Pro: Protestors in London have been seen to link the use of masks with baseless conspiracy theories.
1.3.4.1.1.1. Pro: Many people who are against the use of masks believe that [COVID-19 was fueled by the 5G wireless network technology](https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/14/tech/5g-health-conspiracy-debunked/index.html).
1.3.4.2. Con: Safety measures can be enforced to ensure people are properly safeguarding against Covid-19.
1.3.4.2.1. Con: Enforcing measures such as mask-wearing [can be dangerous](https://www.marketplace.org/2020/07/27/who-responsible-for-enforcing-mask-requirements/) for people without proper enforcement training to take on.
1.3.4.3. Pro: In the United States, wearing masks have incited a nationwide quarrel about [public health, civil liberties and personal freedoms](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53477121).
1.3.4.3.1. Pro: This reflects a [classic American struggle](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2267241/) between those who defend public safety and those who believe just as deeply in personal liberty.
1.3.4.3.1.1. Pro: Many Democrats in the United States support the wearing of masks, [according to a poll](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/06/25/republicans-democrats-move-even-further-apart-in-coronavirus-concerns/) conducted by the Pew Research Center.
1.3.4.3.1.1.1. Pro: As of [June 2020](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/06/25/republicans-democrats-move-even-further-apart-in-coronavirus-concerns/), 63% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say that masks should always be worn, compared to 29% of Republicans and Republican leaners.
1.3.4.3.1.2. Con: This divide is weakening as [more](https://www.axios.com/axios-ipsos-poll-americans-masks-coronavirus-republicans-b541c968-7cb2-4bef-af6d-34f4f61e8df9.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top) Republicans are wearing masks.
1.4. Pro: Herd immunity for COVID-19 is achievable with a vaccine.
1.4.1. Con: [Fifty percent](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/just-50-americans-plan-get-covid-19-vaccine-here-s-how-win-over-rest) of Americans are against the vaccine. Without majority compliance, herd immunity is not achievable.
1.4.1.1. Con: This vast non-acceptance is traceable to [media rhetoric](https://nypost.com/2020/10/07/kamala-harris-on-covid-vaccine-wont-take-it-trump-tells-me-to/) about a Trump-administration vaccine. If we can \(1\) increase the number of independent reviews of the vaccine and \(2\) promote positive media coverage of the vaccine, we may be able to increase vaccine acceptance.
1.4.2. Pro: Vaccines have [successfully](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/herd-immunity-and-coronavirus/art-20486808) controlled the infection rates of many fatally contagious diseases and viruses through herd immunity. It is possible for COVID-19 as well.
1.4.3. Con: Reaching herd immunity through vaccination might have [drawbacks](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/herd-immunity-and-coronavirus/art-20486808).
1.4.3.1. Pro: Protection from some vaccines can [diminish over time](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/herd-immunity-and-coronavirus/art-20486808), requiring revaccination, which many people might be [unable or unwilling](https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-other-reasons-people-dont-get-vaccines/) to obtain.
1.4.3.1.1. Pro: Some people may object to vaccines because of [religious reasons](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5141457/). Therefore, even if they get vaccinated once, they might be unwilling to revaccinate.
1.4.3.1.2. Pro: Some people reject vaccines due to [conspiracy theories](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/202005/anti-vaccine-and-covid-19-conspiracy-theories-perfect-storm?amp).
1.4.4. Con: A vaccine for COVID-19 might not be ready until quite a while.
1.4.4.1. Pro: According to the [World Health Organization \(WHO\) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/04/a-coronavirus-vaccine-wont-be-ready-until-the-end-of-2021-professor-says.html), a COVID-19 vaccine might not be reasonably ready until the end of 2021.
1.4.4.2. Con: Russia has already developed a COVID-19 vaccine, named [Sputnik-V](https://sputnikvaccine.com/), that has been [given regulatory approval](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53735718).
1.4.4.2.1. Con: Many experts have raised concerns about the [speed of Russia's work](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53751017), suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners and thus the vaccine might not be safe for use.
1.4.4.2.1.1. Pro: Currently, the Russian vaccine [is not among the WHO's list of six vaccines that have reached phase-three clinical trials](https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-08-07/Six-COVID-19-vaccine-candidates-in-phase-3-trials-3-from-China-WHO-SKLR0O8auQ/index.html), indicating that it has not been widely tested enough to near recommendation.
1.4.4.2.1.1.1. Pro: The combined first- and second-phase trials of the vaccine were conducted on only [76 people](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53751017).
1.4.4.2.1.2. Pro: Since the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow, the institute that developed the vaccine, [has not released any safety or immunity data](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53735718), scientists have been unable to make an assessment and are thus skeptical of the vaccine.
1.5. Con: The world is [nowhere near close](https://www.cnet.com/health/herd-immunity-what-it-is-and-how-it-can-slow-the-spread-of-coronavirus/) to having widespread resistance to COVID-19 in order to achieve herd immunity.
1.5.1. Pro: Daily infection rates around the world [continue to spike](https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries).
1.5.1.1. Con: As of August 2020, the most affected countries in the world are seeing a [decline](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases) in infection rates.
1.5.1.2. Con: In the United States, the percentage of new COVID-19 infection cases have [continued to decrease nationally](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html) since mid-July.
1.5.1.2.1. Con: According to the CDC, this decrease is only [0.6%](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html), which is not a hopeful decrease in COVID-19 infection cases.
1.5.2. Pro: Experts estimate that [60](https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-comments-about-herd-immunity/) - [90%](https://www.who.int/immunization/sage/meetings/2017/october/2._target_immunity_levels_FUNK.pdf) of a country's population must have immunity to a disease for it to stop spreading. In most countries, these percentages are still too low.
1.5.2.1. Con: As the number of cases in many countries continues to rise rapidly, it might just be a few months until a majority of the population is infected.
1.5.2.2. Pro: The US population is about 330 million and 90% of that is 297 million. As of 21 August 2020, the number of cases in the US are still [5.7 million](https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries).
1.6. Con: Recent reports of people catching COVID-19 multiple times could mean long-term immunity to the virus isn't possible.
1.6.1. Con: According to many sources, [reinfection](https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2020/07/24/covid-reinfection) is unlikely.
1.6.1.1. Con: [According to the CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html), "the risk of \[COVID-19\] reinfection may be lower in the first 3 months after initial infection, based on limited evidence from another betacoronavirus \(HCoV-OC43\), the genus to which SARS-CoV-2 belongs."
1.6.1.2. Pro: A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health \(NIH\) found that "[acquired immunity prevents COVID-19 reinfections​.](https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/07/14/study-in-primates-finds-acquired-immunity-prevents-covid-19-reinfections/)"
1.6.2. Con: Many of these reports are [anecdotal](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/07/22/can-you-get-coronavirus-twice/) and therefore, cannot be taken as fact.
1.6.2.1. Pro: Scientists believe that some COVID-19 tests are [unreliable](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/07/22/can-you-get-coronavirus-twice/) and can throw false positives.
1.6.3. Pro: An Israeli doctor was [reinfected in July 2020](https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200720/Doctor-in-Israel-reinfected-with-COVID-19-three-months-after-recovering.aspx) after recovering from COVID-19 three months earlier.
1.6.4. Con: Health authorities and experts have states that the chances of recovered COVID-19 patients getting reinfected are “[very rare](https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/677316-novel-coronavirus-reinfection-is-very-rare-not-a-big-deal)”.
1.6.5. Pro: Research [suggests](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/herd-immunity-and-coronavirus/art-20486808) that COVID-19 reinfection, though usually mild and only happening in a fraction of people, is possible after a period of months or years.